May 31, 2016

Sea Dogs on the Alize'

I've got dogs on my sailboat!

(...for better or worse)

Well, it has finally happened...puppies have descended on my otherwise peaceful, Newport 30 sailboat. I would never call myself a dog person, however I would very much call my girlfriend a dog person. She insisted that we get dogs. I was on the fence, but ... sometimes the smart move is to defer to your better half.

So, in conclusion, we are now a dog couple.

We have two dogs.

They are puppies.

They chew everything and pee everywhere and jump up on our legs.

But - here's the good news. They are completely awesome and I am really, really happy we got them.

This was the first moment that Baja and Glacier peered into the depths of the main cabin. They seemed inquisitive, possibly fearful. They had their reservations.

These puppies have already been through a lot. They were abandoned in Ensenada, Mexico. A kind soul pulled them out from under a car when they were just 1 week old. Their eyes hadn't yet opened up. After being passed from one shelter to the next, we eventually picked them up at The Barking Lot rescue in El Cajon. This is a great organization, if you're ever in the market for a rescue pup.

The dank, dark cabin was a bit too much. So, we returned to the cockpit. Here you can see they're settling in and starting to get their sea legs.

Baja, the brown dog is some type of Collie blend. Glacier - the white one - is a terrier mix. They're both 4 months old.

Oh... and oddly enough these two puppies are sisters. Apparently, a few different dads got involved with the bitch while she was in heat. Strange but true. An entire litter of 12 was delivered at the same time. Some looked like Glacier while others looked like Baja.

At some point, I'll do some genetic testing on them and figure out exactly what breeds they are..

My girlfriend has never been happier. So that alone is reason to keep the dogs. Here, you can see she is encouraging them to descend into the cabin.

I don't like the fur and hair on my cabin cushions. I also don't like the pee stains and chewed up electrical lines...but those are all details and minor inconveniences.

These dogs are really cool. I am stoked that they'll be a part of the next chapter in my life...

Fortunately - they performed well on their first harbor cruise. But, next comes the real test... The Sea Trial..

Captain Curran's 2018 review of solar powered generators

For the next year, I'll be sailing my Newport 30 along the Pacific coast of Mexico. The boat will often be on anchor and off the grid.

I want to maintain a reliable power supply, so I've been experimenting with various solar powered generators currently on the market in 2018. I just wrote up this review of quality solar panel generators. Hopefully the article helps other folks that are also thinking about a portable, back-up power supply.

Captain Curran's 2018 Boat Insurance Guide

Anchoring in British Columbia can be tricky...it's good to stay insured. Click photo to read my annual insurance review.

Captain Curran's 2018 Boat Insurance Review

My insurance review began as a shared resource for my sailing friends at Shilshole Marina up in Seattle. That was many years ago...

I now update this page every year. People from all over send me comments regarding their boat insurance experience.I try to shed light on policy features, tips to get lower premiums and overall boat insurance cost.If you have any feedback, please leave a comment on one of my posts.

Captain Curran's boat names for all the classic boater types.

I spend far too much time hanging around marinas. This means I see all the typical boating personalities. I decided to organize a page of funny boat names by the typical boating types. Click image above and enjoy!